Braves continue their bad run in Bega..

...(above) none of the Braves wanted to line up in the front row again this Sunday...

The Braves travelled into Bega for the local derby on the weekend- a venue that hadn't brought many points or much luck over the past few visits.
The Braves were surprised to see how dry the Bega pitch was- all of the council's water has obviously been diverted across to the beautiful code that is Rugby League. The result was quite a few high bouncing balls, which made control of the ball and the Braves' normal smooth passing game more difficult.

Try they did though- without much luck or success to keep possession or build decent attacking moves. They were also a bit thin at the back too- with an unfit and injured new man on the left with his damaged wing.

It soon transpired that the Devils made some strong attacking moves- stretching the Braves out on the big field and really testing the stand in keeper. Barney made a couple of Keysie like saves to keep the scores at 0-0. It was Dunko in the end who made the blunder that allowed the Devila to get their nose in front. He was too busy trying to avoid a cross from the left to block it and the resulting scrable put the Devils one up. They had to work bloody hard for that one though.

The scores remained 1-0, Miko having the best of the Braves' chances in both halves and making a number of threatening runs towards Adam Blacka in the Devils goal. The Braves regrouped at the break, realising that without more ball, they were going to struggle to compete.

The second half saw the Braves string together more passes- 3-4-5 in some movements. Unfortunately it's a few more passes needed on the wide open prarie that is 'Hell' (the home of the devils). They did make more probes into the Devils defensive area, Miko again on the end of some of his lightning quick runs. Dunko managed to get forward enough to make a Devil challenge him in the area and he made an uncharacteristically awkward landing- all in the name of protecting his injured arm. Crouchy stepped up with the ball after a heated arguement with Cappitane Maz (settled last week at training?) to put the penalty away nicely.

Unfortunately it wasn't long before the Braves had conceeded another corner though. After a rebound, Dunko was forced to come in from his far far post man, missed the ball in the challenge and his man he left camly tucked the ball in for wahat turned out to be the winner.

The Braves did create a number of other probing pushes forward, one which really should have resulted in a second penalty for them, but it wasn't to be.

Dissapointed, but conscious of the fact that they had probably played better overall than the previous encounter with the Devils, the Braves will be keen to put more pressure on the Devils in the final competition round. It should give the keen, but relaxed Braves squad a gauge of how they have progressed this season. Honorable mentions go to Paddy, Maz, Buzz, Dan and Crouchy all who ran quite a few miles in pursuit of the young quick Devils players.

With some quality passing drills on Wednesday night, the Braves should be keen to knock the ball about more against the Hoppers at Brave Park on the weekend. With Lenno Back, but the great man JMac missing(much to some player's relief), this weekend the team should take on a decidedly attacking look.

This Saturday at 1.30 will see the hometown Braves meet at Brave Park for some necessary work to prep the field on Sunday.

See you there!

Go the braves!

Dodgy Braves Go down at home

...(above)Keysie was hoping his troublesome shoulder would not keep him out of the gym for long..

It was to be a day of glory for the Braves when they played their first game at home last Sunday.
The game didn't start well for the braves- Keysie suffering a shoulder injury common to young farmers who drag irrigation about on 4 wheelers in Bemboka..
The half continued in the same vein. When Capitan Maz heads between the sticks, it means the Braves leak goals and not wanting to let his reputation down, the Braves were 3 down at half time. Bugger.
By all accounts, the Braves played far better in the second half- really much better than the Devila, but they could only pull one back thru the trusty boot of Donnie Beckhamwit his second in two games.
Next game sees the Braves travel to Hell, or the home of the Bega Devils. With a couple of players back for the Braves, it will be interesting to see if the Braves are ready to step up and match it with last year's Ressie's champions

Go you Braves!

Donnie Beckham returns! Braves v Grasshoppers

...Donnie had been on the phone to Becks before the match...

...and Maz was really looking forward to Keysie's return...

The Braves ventured to Berrambool, the home of the Grasshoppers for Round 2 of the season. A warm day greeted the straggling Braves who, on average, were a lot less hung over than last week. The Braves took to the Park with only 10 men after our new keeper had family commitments to attend & Fox & Angus... got lost…

An ear infected Donnie was kicking back about to knock the top off a rum can before realizing that the Braves were short & made haste to pull on the boots (a move that would later see him equalize his 2007 goal scoring tally). Unfortunately an unorganized Braves were beaten with the overlap before our 11th player took the field & the Grassies pushed the ball around & slotted one past our air swinging stand-in keeper - Maz.

Following the Grassies goal Fox & Angus remembered where Merimbula was & Fox took the field to put us make up the 11th man.

The Braves hit back not long after when the new NAB recruit & now All Star Brave, Dan the Man making a break on the left after a switch of play, before firing a penetrating left foot strike from about 25 yards out which made a beeline for the top left corner leaving the keeper flat footed.. yay for the new man!

With sides now equally weighted the Braves pushed the ball around and it seemed Dunko’s training drills had an effect with the Braves holding good possession in the middle with Josh Green & Paddy knocking it forward, back, sideways feeding Angus, Fox, Simon & Al (who continues to hold his own against generally much larger opponents) with space & opportunity. The experienced Merimbula defence held tight and managed to duck past a few of the sneaky, stray, swinging elbows of our new recruits (Simon...) as some of the runs onto the thru balls took on a Rugby League resemblance...

The second half started more positively than the first after the Braves kicked off the ball was pushed around to the right before a switch of play caught the Grassies hopping (get it…) & another new recruit Angus slotted home another goal to put the Braves in front. That was the way the score stayed until 5 minutes to go when Micko was axed down & it appeared that the troublesome knee may again have been aggravated. Not 30 seconds later Naro was also taken out and was left nursing a pretty swollen ankle, not that he received much sympathy from Jodie… or anyone else… nonetheless, judging by the size of the egg on his ankle he’d be doubtful for next weekends clash.

With the backline broken, the Grassies pushed forward & after nutmegging Josh Mc another one was slotted into the back of the Braves net.

With time running out, it appeared that consecutive draws were on the cards, however the Braves were awarded a penalty about 5 metres from the top left corner of the Merimbula goal box. Donnie Beckham stepped up to the mark & hit a sweet strike which dipped just under the cross bar but just above Micko’s head (predictably) to give the Braves our first win for the season.

A solid game was had by all, the midfield worked hard in the warm conditions.

The Braves take on Bega at home next week noting that the Devils don't have a first grade game there is a chance the side could be stacked. With a few of the more experienced players will still be suspended or unavailable & Braves may be in for their toughest game yet.

Notes for next week: Get there on time… get organized before the game…

Buzz will be back in the line up next week, Dunko & Lenno will still be suspended, Naro will likely be on crutches, All Star Dan has family commitments & Josh Mc will in be in Port Douglas drinking XXXX on the beach… Hopefully all others will be on deck for what should be a tough encounter against last year's Ressie's winners

Go the Braves!